Mitsubishi Intros 8 LCD, 9 DLP High-Def TVs

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics doesn’t seem to believe in introducing new products a few at a time, giving retailers and the marketplace a change to examine each group in relative isolation, comparing and contrasting the new offerings with the rest of the marketplace. No, instead Mitsubishi appears to believe in the equivalent of saturation bombing, announcing no fewer than eight new LCD flat-panel high-definition televisions today, along with nine new DLP flat-panel displays. If there was ever a sign high-definition televisions have become a commodity item, this might be it.

First, Mitsubishi is promoting the new LCD lineup as a series of top-flight, 1080p displays sporting a new thin-frame design, HDMI 1.3, and the company’s Full Spectrum Color system which offers 25 percent more color than standard LCD displays. The new units range from the 40-inch LT-20133 with a suggested retail price of $,699, all the way up to the 52-inch Diamond LT-52244 with a suggested price of $5,699. All models feature Mitsubishi’s Thin Frame design which measures roughly one inch thick and still offers high-quality built-in speakers. The displays also support x.v.Color, Mitsubishi’s Full Spectrum Color, and HDMI 1.3 inputs with Deep Color support. The units sport three rear HDMI inputs, with some models offering side inputs for connecting camcorders, game consoles, or other devices. The displays also offer USB input for accessing thumb drives or card readers, and are digital cable-ready with a CableCard slot.

Looking for something a bit larger? Mitsubishi has also announced nine new DLP high-definition televisions, also touting new thin frames, 1080p resolution, HDMI 1.3 inputs, and Mitsubishi’s unique 60Color Light Engine. The offerings are broken into three lines—the 733, 734, and Diamond series—each sporting three models in 57-, 65-, and 73-inch sizes. The 733 feature Mitsubishi’s 6-Color Light Engine, x.v.Color, Mitsubishi’s PerfectColor adjustment and Easy Connect technologies, three rear HDMI inputs, component inputs (two rear, one front), and a USB jack. The 734 series add Mitsubishi’s PerfectTint adjustment capability, DeepField imager for dynamic contrast adjustment, SharpEdge processing, NetCommand for on-screen home theater control, and a front HDMI input. The Diamond models add Smooth120Hz processing for smoother image and reduced blur, TV Guide On Screen 9.0, Game FX 3D gaming capability, a FireWire/IEEE1394 port, and an RS232C input.

Mitsubishi hasn’t revealed details of when these displays will be available or released more detailed specs on contrast ratios, brightness, viewing angles, and response times…but Mitsubishi does want potential customers to know that both the LCD and DLP displays are designed and built in North America.